Orcas Ram Sailboat off Northwestern Spain, Vessel Towed to Shore

Although known as killer whales, endangered orcas are part of the dolphin family. (AP file)
Although known as killer whales, endangered orcas are part of the dolphin family. (AP file)
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Orcas Ram Sailboat off Northwestern Spain, Vessel Towed to Shore

Although known as killer whales, endangered orcas are part of the dolphin family. (AP file)
Although known as killer whales, endangered orcas are part of the dolphin family. (AP file)

Orcas rammed a sailboat off the coast of northwestern Spain and damaged the vessel's rudder, prompting the maritime rescue service to tow the boat ashore, the service said on Monday.

The incident was the latest in a series of boat rammings by orca pods off the coasts of Spain and Portugal. Scientists have yet to reach a consensus on the reasons for this recent behavior.

One of the sailboat's two crew members seriously injured her hand during the towing maneuver amid rough sea conditions and was evacuated by helicopter to hospital, the service said.

The boat, named Amidala, alerted the maritime rescue center on the rock-bound Cape Finisterre peninsula on the coast of Galicia shortly before 4 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Sunday. The crew - a man and a woman, both Belgian nationals - reported damage to the ship's rudder after it was rammed by an unknown number of orcas.

Adverse weather, with winds of up to 35 knots (65 km/h) and waves up to 3 meters (9.8 ft) high, hampered the towing operation, the service said, which took more than five hours until reaching port.

In May, orcas sank a sailing yacht after ramming it on the Moroccan side of the Strait of Gibraltar.

Although known as killer whales, endangered orcas are part of the dolphin family. They can measure up to eight meters and weigh up to six tons as adults.



Islamabad Seeks Partnerships with Riyadh to Boost Digital Media Production, Content Quality

Pakistan’s Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Pakistan’s Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Islamabad Seeks Partnerships with Riyadh to Boost Digital Media Production, Content Quality

Pakistan’s Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Pakistan’s Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Pakistan’s Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar emphasized his country’s commitment to forming partnerships with Saudi Arabia to enhance digital media production, journalism, content creation, and new media business models.

He also highlighted the importance of digital transformation and financial sustainability in the modern media landscape, noting that the Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh introduced innovative initiatives and comprehensive solutions to contemporary challenges.

Tarar told Asharq Al-Awsat that Islamabad and Riyadh share strong historical and cultural ties. He praised Saudi Arabia for its forward-thinking initiatives that promote prosperity, economic growth, and increased commercial activities.

Tarar expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation with the Kingdom, particularly in addressing emerging challenges such as misinformation and fake news facilitated by modern technologies.

Tarar noted that the Saudi Media Forum, which he recently attended in Riyadh, provided a valuable platform to learn from Saudi Arabia’s media expertise and foster collaboration between media sectors while discussing the latest industry trends.

“This is a remarkable step under the Vision 2030 Saudi Arabia which is progressing under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister,” he remarked.

“Hosting a large number of global leaders in Riyadh for fostering media cooperation to create a livable and sustainable future for our generations especially by mitigating its potentially chaotic challenges such as misinformation and disinformation, fake news, propaganda,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Tarar stressed the need for collaboration among media professionals to tackle issues arising from rapid technological advancements, such as the unethical use of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology.

While technology presents challenges, it also offers solutions, he said, underscoring the need for greater media pluralism—not only to address technological threats but also to defend against cybersecurity risks that could escalate into international conflicts.

“The people gathered here are not merely numbers but brilliant brains who will work together and by sharing knowledge and expertise to counter issues emanating with evolution of technology such unethical use of AI and deep fake,” he remarked.

Furthermore, Tarar urged social media platforms and online content providers to take greater responsibility for the content they host.

He noted: “Social media platforms and online content providers must be held accountable for the content they host. Stricter policies against misinformation and malicious actors, coupled with collaborations with independent fact-checking organizations, can enhance platform integrity.”

“Nations must workout legal frameworks to address the problems of the media evolving in the modern world entailing problems like misinformation and cyber threats,” he urged.

Furthermore, the minister highlighted the importance of raising awareness and instilling individual responsibility among digital media users. He called for large-scale awareness campaigns and joint training programs for content creators to promote ethical media practices and reduce harmful content.

“Awareness creation to inculcate individual responsibility among the people are the main consumer of the content from the platforms of the digital media,” he said. “The users of these platforms must be educated about the harmful content and its implications through massive sensitization campaigns.”

“We must also initiate joint trainings for content creators to equip them with the media ethics that will help a great deal in curbing the virility of harmful content,” he explained.